The National Literature Month to open with Balagtas Day in Bataan

This month of April ushers in the National Literature Month, a month-long celebration with literary activities led by NCCA, Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino (KWF) and National Book Development Board (NBDB).

This year, the National Literature Month aims to highlight the transformative power of literature. This theme of metamorphosis and transformation was intended to stimulate the discovery of new forms in literature, while helping in the development of regional languages.

There will be a kick-off celebration of Balagtas Day (Francisco Balagtas) a famous poet who penned Florante and Laura, on April 2, at Orani Bataan. The festival will run from April 1-29.

Activities include a literary conference titled “Pambansang Kampong Balagtas 2017” will be held on March 31-April 2, at the Orion Elementary School in Bataan, which will be attended by 100 student-writers from all over the Philippines. Outstanding writers will be honoured on April 2.

Other activities include literary caravans, workshops, conferences, language and literary forums, spoken word poetry, performances, book launches, lectures, singing competitions, Brushes with Words and Chords at University of Santo Tomas, and Umpil National Congress of Writers on April 29.